Maintaining Your Budget During the Holidays

The holiday season is here and that likely means extra shopping, gifts and entertaining! Did you know that the average shopper is expecting to spend $1,400 this holiday season? In order to make your season merry, GreenPath has a few ideas about maintaining your budget during December.

Plan ahead. Determine how much you need for the holidays. Don’t forget that holiday spending includes more than gifts. We have more get-togethers with friends and family from out of tow, and we tend to spend more on gas, since we are driving around trying to find that perfect gift.

Get creative. Consider homemade presents, like a plate of fresh-baked cookies, and, for a nice personal touch, include the recipe. Creating a coupon book for chores or maybe even an offer to watch your next door neighbor’s kids, so they cna go out shopping, is another great idea.

Give family or group gifts. Think of an experience the whole family can enjoy, such as a pass to a nearby metro park or gift certificate to a restaurant or the movies. for you boss, get together with other co-workers to purchase a gift together.

Research big ticket items. Keep track of the prices so you can find who is selling the item for less. Look online and review the store ads. And don’t forget about those apps that are designed to compare prices at different stores. Nothing hurts more than to buy an expensive gift, only to find it for less at another store.

Set a limit and stick to it. Remember, spending more on one person means spending less on another. It is difficult to find a gift that costs the exact amount you want to spend, so one strategy is to give gift cards. That way you can spend exactly what you intent. Plus, mahy stores offer perks, like extra gas points or a discount the next time you shop.

One last thing to remember during the holiday season is that over time, we look back fondly on the experiences, not necesarily the gifts! Happy Holidays!

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